Indian students' life in Georgia

Once a student from India arrives in Tbilisi, Georgia, what is the life like? Well, life in Georgia is not all that different from what you would live in India. Of course, there is less congestion and the environment is quite different. The first thing that you should know is that most of the universities don’t have  hostel facilities so all students live off campus. There is plenty of affordable housing within walking distance of most universities and colleges. In fact, the local Georgians have flats, bed and breakfast and condos for rent all the time. There are also many other Indian students who are looking for room mates.  Further, next to these universities there are plenty of cafeterias and grocery shops. All over the city there are large shopping malls which carry almost every item that you can possibly want.

In your apartment, the rooms are much larger than what you used to in India. Most rooms come furnished with the basic amenities, include shower and toilet facilities, laundry and also have heating. If you want TV and internet, you may have to pay extra. But most landlords also offer these services at a small fee. The tap water is clean and can be consumed without worry.

Almost all college campuses have a large library which is open till late. There are sporting facilities, cafeterias and recreational facilities available at no extra cost. Almost every weekend, you can rest assured there will be a dance, disco or some type of social gathering on the campus. Many Indian students plan their own gathering and bring their own specialty dish which everyone shares.

Over the weekend, most students take time out from their studies and venture out. Tbilisi is a beautiful history city with lots of culture. Transportation is very cheap and the city is served by an excellent transit system. Even traveling to nearby towns is very cheap.

Tbilisi does have an active night life but it is more laid back. There are night clubs and bars all over the city but most students prefer to visit friends or family instead. For a student, a night out on the town is not expensive and one can have a good dinner at a fancy restaurant at a low price.

For shopping, you can buy almost anything here but the prices tend to be a little bit more than what you can get in India. So if you do not need anything special, then you are better off buying the item back home.

Even though Georgian is the official language, both Russian and English is also spoken. In fact most roadway signs are both in English and Russian. If you need any medications, there are pharmacies open all over the place. Unlike the rigid rules you have in the USA, most pharmacies will give you your medications, even if you do not have a prescription.

Finally, the one thing you will note the moment you arrive at the airport is the friendliness of the people. Georgians by nature are warm and hospitable people. Most are proud of their country and will go out of their way to make sure that you have a good time.  Of course, in return, you also need to be pleasant, nice and warm.

Georgia- Study Destination

For decades, most Indian students went to North America to pursue their further education. Of course, there is no doubt that most American universities offer excellent education, which is recognized globally. However, over the past decade America has changed. It has become a lot more expensive in terms of tuition and the American government has started to introduce strict and very rigid regulations for obtaining a student visa. Finally, the crime rate all over the USA has soared. Almost every week there are reports of mass shootings and campus violence is growing. For these reasons, another great option for Indians who wish to pursue further education is just to the North of India- in the former republic of the Soviet Union- Georgia.

 Georgia has several top ranked universities which are run by the state. These universities offer almost every type of course or diploma that one can get in the USA such as nursing, medicine, emergency medicine, physiotherapy, engineering and so on. Besides Indians, students from other nations include Sri lanka,Turkey, Canada, Azerbaijan, Armenia an Ukraine.  While some students come here independently, many others come as a part of students exchange program as arranged by the universities.

 Some of the top ranked universities in Georgia include  IvaneJavakhishvili Tbilisi State, Ilia State, AkakiTsereteli State, International Black Sea and David Tvildiani Medical University.There are many more.

 The fees for studying in most universities in Georgia vary from $4,000- $8000 for a semester which is a tenth of the cost in the USA. The universities all follow a European union syllabus which allows the graduate to seek employment anywhere in Europe, if the opportunity arises.

 So what is lifelike in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia? 

Indian students who come here mention that while Georgia overall may not be as developed as the USA, it is still better developed than India, much cleaner, bigger and definitely less crowded. All the homes are furnished and have heating. The classrooms are well equipped and they have also a good transportation system. The universities also offer access to the internet and have comprehensive libraries. 

Food and renting in Georgia is very comparable to India but of course the variety of spices is less. English is widely spoken by most people in the capital. However, because of influx of other Europeans one may hear many other languages.

 Outside of the university, Tbilisi has a vibrant night life and offers ample outdoor opportunities such as recreational sports, water activities and exploring the countryside. Mind you, Georgia is a cold country with its frigid winters, so when you come here, you will definitely need winter clothes.

 The majority of Indians who have come to Georgia remain satisfied. The country is very safe and the people are extremely friendly towards other races and cultures.

 Most students who go to Tbilisi say that the experience of going to a former soviet republic was exciting. In the end, they got education, met people of a different culture and got a decent job back home.